The 21 Best Kiss Songs

This is the tribute album version by Yoshiki. The Kiss version, of course, is amazing, but this one is so cool. I urge people to check it out. It’s a beautifully arranged epic classical version.

Till next time, rock on!

Dave Reffett is a Berklee College of Music graduate and has worked with some of the best players in rock and metal. He is an instructor at (and the head of) the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal department at The Real School of Music in the metro Boston area. He also is a master clinician and a highly-in-demand private guitar teacher. He teaches lessons in person and worldwide via Skype. As an artist and performer, he is working on some soon-to-be-revealed high-profile projects with A-list players in rock and metal. In 2009, he formed the musical project Shredding The Envelope and released the critically acclaimed album The Call Of The Flames. Dave also is an official artist endorsee for companies like Seymour Duncan, Gibson, Eminence and Esoterik Guitars, which in 2011 released a Dave Reffett signature model guitar, the DR-1. Dave has worked in the past at Sanctuary Records and Virgin Records, where he promoting acts like The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Korn and Meat Loaf.

From '73 to '78, that's all. Then the money took over, and the 2 best musicians in the band fell victim to the greed and egos of the "owners" of the KISS trademark. What a waste. You can't buy integrity, Mr. Bat-winged corporate megalomaniac. Rock on, Ace and Peter, cuz the other two are embarassing.

Right ON!!! Everything you say is so true.
What Paul and Gene call success,I call SELL OUT!!!
If KISS had folded right after Double Platinum,
they would be LEGENDS and in the Hall of Fame.
I hate and disagree with the Hall of Fame but they
are looking at the 80's version of KISS when talking.
Without Ace and Peter the chemistry is DEAD!!!!

Bah! As a Kiss fanatic when ALIVE! came out, I was starting to look in other musical directions after Destroyer. To me, Destroyer was their finest studio work, as it should have been after ALIVE! made them the most popular band on the planet.
"Sweet Pain" nobody ever remembers that one. One of my fav's...

As a Kiss fan the same age as you, Mr. Reffett, I must retort, lol! Although I must give you props for name-dropping "The Elder," "Killers," and even throwing "Carr Jam" on the list, it shoulda been something more like this (in no particular order):

no live, no unplugged, all original
"Under The Rose," "Only You" The Elder is an amazing record, just saying

"Fractured Mirror" because everyone needs to be reminded that Mr. Ace Frehley is truly one of the most underrated guitarists of all time - a complete genius!!

"Detroit Rock City" I understand why you didn't include "RNRAN," but why did you leave this one out? I don't care whose list it is, this song should always be in the top 5 at the very least, lol

"Shout It Out Loud (New Version)" from "Greatest Kiss" While the Alive II version is amazing as well, there's something about that Reunion show that's just magic. I love that version even more than the studio version on Destroyer

You pretty much can't fail mentioning any performance from the Unplugged disc...you were absolutely right there, they were on top of it.

"Shock Me." Even though it may or may not have been bastardized by Tommy Thayer as of late, depending on one's opinion, this song is absolute essential Kiss and Ace Frehley's signature...you can never leave out the Space Ace, lol

"Black Diamond" The Alive! version Again, you can never go wrong mentioning any performance from any of the first 3 Alive discs, but this is the best version of the song I have ever heard

"When Lightning Strikes" An odd choice for an Ace Frehley purist, but as you said, "Sonic Boom" was an excellent record that exceeded my expectations for a Kiss record 35 years into their career, minus two of the original members. Most importantly, this song, as well as "All For One," allow Tommy and Eric to develop their own identities within the classic characters of the Cat and Spaceman. They both did exceptionally well

"Creatures of The Night" Regardless of taste(lol, or proof in record sales), this album is the best album of the band's career, even if it was during their downfall. I would never classify Kiss as a "metal" band, as I feel hard rock is more appropriate, but this album comes damn close

I dig KISS songs From all era's also. From their world domination in the 70's. Till "On their way down" as was said. Their trendy 80's albums and their resurgence since 96 Thru Sonic Boom. Different line ups, I love em all....
All American Man
A Million To One
Mr. Speed
All The Way
Comin Home
Dark Light
Ain't Quite Right
Hell Or High Water
Thou Shalt Not
Lonely Is The Hunter
Russian Roulette
Baby Driver
Almost Human
I'm In Need Of Love
Room Service
Gimme More
Childhoods End
Within
Get All You Can Take
I Can't Stop The Rain
Who Wants To Be Lonely....

As I look through the songlist it looks like you deliberately stayed away from their greatest songs ever. I agree with the person who said most of the songs are when kiss was on their way down and missing ace and peter. My favorite songs would differ from day to day and by the way I was 16 when destroyer came out. Here they are (today anyway) The top 21 (in no order)
1 calling dr. love
2 strange ways (the best ace solo)
3 detroit rock city
4 hotter than hell
5 black diamond
6 I want you
7 flaming youth
8 shout it out loud
9 love gun
10 i stole your love
11 sure know something
12 beth
13 rocket ride
14 makin love
15 christeen sixteen
16 world without heros
17 god of thunder
18 rock and roll all night (alive 1 version)
19 all american man
20 parasite
21 cmon and love me (alive 1 version)

Those are mine today tomorrow may change, but that's how it is for a true kiss fan!

In no particular order:
Unholy
Creatures Of The Night
Watchin' You
Black Diamond
I Want You
Detroit Rock City
Psycho Circus
Fits Like A Glove
The Oath
Hide Your Heart
Tonight You Belong To Me
Rip It Out
I Stole Your Love
Take Me
I Still Love You
Duece
Got To Choose
Tears Are Falling
I've Had Enough (Into The Fire)
Nothin' To Lose
Shock Me

My top 21 KISS songs are;
100,000 years
I still love you
Cold Gin
I Will Be There
Sure Know Something
Detroit Rock City
Flaming Youth
A Million To One
Hard Luck Woman
Dreamin'
Master And Slave
Forever
Parasite
Tonight You Belong To Me
Rip It Out
Love Gun
War Machine
Nowhere To Run
I Was Made For Lovin' You
Rock Bottom
Take It Off
I Can't Stand The Rain
Rock'n'Roll All Nite

I am glad to see younger fans to the KISS army, however, if you are less than 35 to 40 years old, you missed out on the complete KISStory! If Megadeth is your only comparison to KISS, then I take it, judging by your lists of songs, that you caught KISS on their way down. Don't get me wrong, KISS performances are legendary and the guys are hard working dedicated rockers, but from a musical perspective, I place more value on the first 5 to six albums ending with KISS Alive II. I even heard some redeeming elements in "The Elder", but when the band lost Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, got into disco and released a failure in "Unmasked", something was lost. Remember, Dimebag was largely an "Ace" fan moreover than a KISS fan. You forget early songs like "Parasite"; "Hotter Than Hell"; "Rock Bottom"; "Love Theme from KISS"; "Black Diamond"; "Strutter"; "She" and "Cold Gin", and the lists goes on!

When KISS's comparisons were Led Zeppelin; AC/DC and Boston, you not only had a great concert, the songs were flawless and emphasis was on a tight musical performance. When KISS became businessmen over artists, it showed. Now you can watch Gene Simmons belittle himself, his family and those around him on reality TV as a washed up musician as the genius marketing and car salesman takes over. All his notoriety and popularity being based on three other guys, two of whom made KISS a musical band before it became another consumer product like Coke and Pepsi.

Great choices, Dave. Cool that you didn't stick with only '70s songs, as KISS recorded so many amazing tunes in the '80s and beyond. You have some of my faves on your list. Here's my top 21:

Nowhere To Run
Love Gun
Sure Know Something
Shandi
A World Without Heroes
Tonight You Belong To Me
Who Wants To Be Lonely
I've Had Enough
Modern Day Delilah
Take Me
The Oath
Exciter
Heart Of Chrome
God Of Thunder (Alive II)
I Was Made For Lovin' You (Alive III)
Deuce (Alive!)
A Million To One
Got To Choose
Detroit Rock City
Under The Rose
Naked City

I too was at the Manchester, NH show. Even though we didn't get the full KISS show (arena prevented everything KISS does), it was still absolutely amazing as always.